Clear Channel Lists Concessions For Satcaster Merger

[oandapartycock]

From:
http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=618933

March 14, 2008

In a new filing with the FCC, Clear Channel has outlined detailed concession requirements that they think should be adhered to should the Commission approve the merger between Sirius and XM Satellite Radio.

"Were the Commission inclined to approve the merger, nonetheless, it should, at a minimum, impose the following conditions that would be essential to remain even remotely faithful to Commission precedents and policies regarding competition, spectrum and preservation of a viable, locally-oriented, free, over-the-air radio broadcast system," the company wrote in its filing.

Some of the merger concessions that Clear Channel asked for include: No less than 50 percent of broadcast capacity be made available for lease to create "a viable competitive alternative to XM-Sirius;" No less than 5 percent of capacity be set aside for public interest programming, a la the requirement for DBS services;
That the satcaster be subject to decency rules;
That Sirius-XM be prohibited from broadcasting local content; That Sirius-XM be prohibited from receiving local advertising revenue; and that HD Radio capabilities be built into all satellite radio receivers.
Regarding the last condition, Clear Channel explained, "The Commission should require the merged entity to integrate subscription-free HD radio reception capability into all satellite radio receivers. Absent such a condition, the merged XM-Sirius will have the incentive and capability, through its dominant market position, to engage in anti-competitive behavior by locking up exclusive agreements with automobile manufacturers, thereby impeding dramatically the growth of HD radio. Although this condition does not mitigate the core problems posed by the proposed merger, imposition of this condition is absolutely critical to the future competitive viability of free, over-the-air radio in the digital era


Talk about cock blockers. How the hell does Clear Channel submit this with a straight face?

[Three Hole Puncher]

Fucking ridiculous...

It's like if National Buggy Whip Manufacturers, Inc. tried to tell Henry Ford that half of the first automobiles he manufactured MUST be pulled by horses.

You can't fight obsolescence with regulation.

Evolve, innovate or die.

Die already, Clear Channel.

[Kris_LTRMa]

That the satcaster be subject to decency rules;

and do they call themselves FMS for FM-Satellite radio?

isn't clear channel the company run by the religious zealots?

[DonTheTrucker]

Talk about cock blockers. How the hell does Clear Channel submit this with a straight face?

By counting their money and realizing that eliminating competition (even niche competition like sat radio) makes them more money.

It's only business.

The merger will happen, the shows will still be able to curse on the air, and in 10 years none of this will matter since some new technology will come along.

[Voss's Tumor]

If I ran either XM or Sirius I'd simply open a new business outside the jurisdiction of the US and continue to broadcast. What would the government do? Shoot down their satellites?

No business should have to put up with this pandering bullshit

[Sinn Fein]

If you're gonna make demands/requests, you make sure they are sky-high and then you settle for less. That's all this is.

[oandapartycock]

I read somewhere recently that XM has used 140 lawyers going over millions of documents for over a year now. It almost seems as if the FCC or DOJ wants to bankrupt them via attorney fees. Isn't this the longest merger approval ever? They're already in the red and now they're spending tens of millions of dollars just in lawyer fees.

The censorship thing is laughable, and expecting XM and Sirius to include HD FM in new radios would by nice and convenient for Clear Channel. But if they ban "local" programming does that mean the boys can't talk about Mastic Beach anymore? Or the L.I.E., or FH Rileys 400 New York Avenue in the heart of Huntington Village?

[IsThatATrain ?]

Maybe it's time someone in government took a look at Clear Channel's history of concert ticket scalping - I mean - sales.

For years, Clear Channel has been the only outlet for major act concert tickets, and yet somehow, when the tickets go on sale to the general public, all the prime seats are sold; or are - "unavailable"

Amazingly, within five minutes of the commencement of the ticket sales, you can call any "ticket broker", and you're able to get seats within the first ten orchestra rows, for incredibly inflated prices.

Coincidence ?

Yeah...right.

[badcellphoneguy]

Queer Channel GO SCREW!!!

[Southern Fried Pest]

Bob & Tom, johnboy and billy, and maxwell, coming to a satellite radio near you! UGH.

[Debbie1125]

Well that does it. I'm no longer listening Radio 104.5. They're one of Clear Channel's stations.

[oandapartycock]

Just bumping this for a new development. Looks like Clear Channel may have a couple of senators in their back pocket.

http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=711775

Senators Outline XM-Sirius Merger Conditions
May 21, 2008

Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) are the latest politicians to voice their concerns about the proposed XM-Sirius merger. In a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, the Senators say that they believe the merger "could possibly undermine competition and harm the consumer if certain conditions are not applied."

McCaskill and Snowe recommend that if the FCC approves the merger, XM and Sirius should be held to a list of conditions that the Senators have laid out. First off, since the merged satcasters would hold a large amount of the radio spectrum, they should be required by the Commission to divest up to half of their spectrum holding.

The FCC should also ensure "open access" from other manufacturers who would want to develop new satellite radio receivers and also make sure that the satcasters do not block automakers from including HD Radio technology alongside satellite receivers in vehicles.

The Senators also note that because satellite radio cannot replicate free, local radio programming, the FCC "should reaffirm its position" that XM and Sirius were licensed as national services. The Commission should prevent them from using terrestrial repeaters to allow different local content in different markets or "undermine" local news and weather information.

[BigJewishTits]

I find it funny how cuntchannel is concerned about "dominant market position" when they own something like 1500 radio stations and run most of the big/major arenas (live nation) in the country.

you want the merger to meet your conditions? than break up cuntchannel and live nation into individuall or at the very least small regional companies. they did it with the phone company and we still have the same shitty service.

[masterem243]

HD Radio must be doing real well for them to force the competition to carry them. Fucking tools.

[R.BuddDwyer]

How does anyone above profound mental retardation make concessions with censorship and content that can't compete with local FM and still see satellite radio as something with any worth whatsoever?

[R.BuddDwyer]

HD Radio must be doing real well for them to force the competition to carry them. Fucking tools.

In the years since it's launched, I haven't heard of anyone I know or even anyone who knows someone I know having an HD radio.

[roche]

In the years since it's launched, I haven't heard of anyone I know or even anyone who knows someone I know having an HD radio.

Because the content SUCKS.

[R.BuddDwyer]

Yeah, I listened to some stations once at a Best Buy and its basically like having the same station x amount of times, each delayed by a certain interval.

"Did you miss the entirety of Mariah Carrey's "Touch My Body"? No worries, tune to HD channel 3 on the 15's past the hour and channel 4 on the 1/2s"